“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” Romans 12:10
We should honor, or value, the people who are considered to be our peers, or those we have no authority over or under. They are our friends, our siblings, our co-workers, our neighbors, and our community.
When we honor others, we are lifting them to the place of honor they belong in. In Philippians 2:3-4, Paul writes, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.” When we consider someone to have worth to us, we will help to lift him or her up.
Here are a few scriptures on encouraging others:
I Thessalonians 5:11 “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
Hebrews 3:13 “But exhort one another daily, while it is called ‘Today,’ lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
Romans 15:1 “We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves.”
When we honor our peers, we should do so with sincerity. Honor with hypocrisy is no honor at all. Hypocrisy is “the concealment of one’s real character or motives.” The opposite of concealment is transparency. We need to be real. When you value someone, here are some things you can do to show yourself to be genuine:
Be honest and tell the truth
Include others in what you do
Share what you have with them
Be kind in your conversation and actions
When appropriate, share something about yourself
Comfort them when they are hurting
Try to help them to do well and move forward
Put them first, give them preference
Pray together, go to church together, serve together
When we honor our peers, we also honor God, who considers all people to be of great worth.
Application: Find someone you can encourage today.